Scaramucci Out As White House Communications Director

Anthony Scaramucci is out as White House communications director, 10 days after being named to the position.

Chip Somodevilla
/ Getty Images

Originally published on July 31, 2017 7:35 pm

Updated at 5 p.m. ET

Anthony Scaramucci is leaving his position as White House communications director — less than two weeks after being named for the job.

Scaramucci's departure followed the Monday-morning swearing in of the new White House chief of staff, retired Gen. John F. Kelly. Scaramucci had negotiated an unusual deal to report directly to the president rather than the chief of staff (Reince Priebus at the time).

"Mr. Scaramucci felt it was best to give Chief of Staff John Kelly a clean slate and the ability to build his own team," a statement from White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. "We wish him all the best."

Monday afternoon, Huckabee Sanders told reporters she would not elaborate on whether Scaramucci was fired or willingly resigned, but she said the former Wall Street financier would not retain another role on the White House staff "at this time."

Last week, Scaramucci unleashed a vulgar diatribe in an interview with The New Yorker, in which he slammed his most senior colleagues and put a spotlight on the warring power centers within the White House.

President Trump initially appeared to support Scaramucci's brash style. But, when asked Monday, Huckabee Sanders said, "The president certainly felt that Anthony's comments were inappropriate for a person in that position."

Huckabee Sanders said that no additional West Wing staffing changes are expected and clarified that Kelly, as the new White House chief of staff, "has the full authority to operate in the White House and all staff will report to him."

She said the new chain of command includes chief strategist Steven Bannon, as well as Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner — the president's daughter and son-in-law — who serve as top advisers to the president.